Simon Taufel to quit after World T20

One of the most respected umpires in world cricket today, Simon Taufel, will resign from his job after the World T20, which is currently underway in Sri Lanka. He will move from his on-field job to take up the post of 'umpire performance and training manager' with the ICC.

"Following the T20 WC Sri Lanka 2012, I'm moving on from active international umpiring for personal and professional reasons. My wife and children have supported me immensely throughout my career and it is time for me to spend more time with them. My passion for cricket umpiring and personal professional development has shifted from on the field to off the field. In my new position as ICC umpire performance and training manager, I look forward to help create professional programmes and resources to support the current and future generations of cricket match officials. The new role includes working closely with the national cricket federations which is really exciting as is continuing to work with the entire cricket community in helping the development of our cricket umpires."

Taufel was the ICC's 'umpire of the year' for five consecutive years starting from 2004, and has umpired in 74 tests and 174 one-day internationals.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson paid tribute to one of cricket's most consistent umpires. "Simon has been one of the most respected umpires for over a decade due to his excellent decision-making and man-management skills. He has been a role model for umpires globally who look to him for inspiration and guidance. I am delighted that he will be working with us to groom and develop the next generation of elite umpires and have no doubt that he will be equally successful in his new role as ICC's umpire performance and training manager. In the meantime I know that Simon, a thorough professional that he is, will want to focus on the job at hand, that of getting things right on the field, something he has done as well as any other umpire in the history of the game."